Hello and welcome.
This page and fundraising has been set up for the benefit of a champion guy, Eddie Abrahams
The fundraiser is ‘The Kennel’ forum (www.thekennel.net.au). This is a public forum that has an active participation of NRL Bulldogs fans. There are also supporters of other clubs on this forum.
Forum members come from all walks of life. While an NRL based site, topics discussed are not restricted to Rugby League. One of the topics started was called the ‘R U OK?’ thread, which at its core is about mental health, and encourages the participants to share their thoughts and feelings.
One of the most heartbreaking moments belongs to a fellow Kenneler who goes by the moniker "Assassin". We now know him as Eddie Abrahams. Eddie shared with us that he suffers from Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Viral Myocarditis.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and cannot pump blood efficiently. The decreased heart function can affect the lungs, liver, and other body systems.
Myocarditis or Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy is inflammation of heart muscle. The consequences of myocarditis vary widely. It can cause a mild disease without any symptoms that resolves itself, or it may cause chest pain, heart failure, or sudden death
Doctors don’t exactly know how Eddie caught these diseases. They do suspect that it was the result of an airborne virus that attacked his heart when his immune system was at its weakest.
Eddie, who is aged 35 years old, used to be very fit and healthy. He is married with two (2) young kids, aged 3 years and 22 months. He currently has only 6% use of his heart and deteriorating. Due to his condition, Eddie now suffers from:
*Breathing problems
*Muscle loss - uses a walking stick at the moment but will need a wheelchair within 6 months
*Immune system of a newborn. Early this year Eddie nearly died from pneumonia, which caused further deterioration of his heart
*Diabetes
*Kidney problems
*Liver problems
These physical problems have led to further problems such as:
*Clinical Depression
*Severe Stress
*Severe Anxiety
Eddie is current prescribed to take 12 different medication types to try to slow down the deterioration of his heart. However, this medicine does have limitations and cannot be consumed indefinitely. The only cure is a heart transplant, which is one of the most dangerous and complicated operations one can undertake. Eddie is now on a waiting list for eligibility of this transplant.
As Eddie struggles to breathe and walk, he lost his job as a security officer, a position he held for 14 years. The doctors recommended he stop working as his job was too physically straining for his heart. So as to support his family and obtain a ‘desk job’, Eddie enrolled in a TAFE course to learn Business Administration. However, further deterioration of his condition means this is no longer possible.
Eddie is a very strong person with a will to live. He would love nothing more than to be healthy again and be able to see his kids grow.
He has never asked for assistance or sympathy. This fundraiser is the initiative of a select group of The Kennel forum that feel compelled to assist someone in need.
We ask that you open your hearts (and your wallet) for this great cause. No donation is too small (or too big). This fundraiser ends 18 August 2015, which happens to be Eddie’s birthday. It would be wonderful to give both Eddie and his family something to celebrate.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Your support and generosity would be greatly appreciated.
Best Wishes mate, I hope all goes well